Centrifugal pump



May 9, 1944. R. H. DIXON CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed May 12,-1942 INVENTOR. z'xozz,

BY W I ATTORNY.

Patented May 9, 1944 7 UNJITED I ouurnmuoar. rum

Ralph E. Dixon, llelleville,I N. J. Application May 12, 1942, Serial No. 442,686

This invention relates generally to improvements in centrifugal pumps; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of self-priming centrifugal pump.

This invention has for an object to provide a novel construction of centrifugal pump wherein the impeller member is formed to provide a conical face having angularly extending impeller vanes projecting therefrom to extend from points adjacent to the apex of said face to the perimeter thereof and thence across the periphery of the impeller member; said impeller member being rotatably mounted within a pump casing conforming thereto, and provided with an intake opposed tothe conical face thereof in axial alignment with its apex, and said casing being further provided with an outlet substantially tangent to the periphery of said impeller member. V

The invention has for a further object to provide a centrifugal pump, characterized as above stated, wherein the impeller member isof hollow construction to provide an internal chamber having an intake port leading through the apex of the conical faced the impeller member, and outlet ports circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the impeller member intermediate the external impeller vanes thereof, all whereby said chamber functions as a priming liquid reservoir, so that, upon initiation of operative rotary movement of the impeller member, the contained liquid is discharged by centrifugal force exteriorly of the periphery of said impeller member, thus providing a seal between'the latter and the adjacent pump casing walls, so as to induce operative suction efiect of the rotating impeller member, while at the same time producing a low pressure or vacuum effect within the impeller member chamber operative to evacuate air from the pump intake line or conduit,

and gradually discharge the samethrough the impeller member periphery and pump casing outlet, until maximum liquid flow into and out of the pump is attained; all whereby the pump is automatically primed when put in operation.

Another object of the'invention is to provide the chamber of the hollow impeller member with internal radial vanes which are adapted to'enhance the centrifugal force applied to fluid within and circulating through the chamber.

Other objects-of .this inventiomnot at this time more particularly set forth, will be understood from the following detailed description of thesame. V

4 Claims. (01. 103-103) An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a centrifugal pump according to this invention the back plate and drive shaft of the impeller member being shown in elevation: Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the pump.

I easing, the impeller member being shown in elevation'; and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the pump casing and impeller member,

with parts of the former broken awayl Similar characters of reference are'employed in the above described views, to indicate corresp ndin parts.

Referring tothe drawing, the illustrative form of the centrifugal pump according to this invention, as shown, comprises a hollow impeller member having a conical front wall ill, the apex of which is directed toward the intake side of the pump. Continuing rearwardly from the perimeter of said conical front wall I0 is a peripheral wall H, of suitable width, concentric to the axis of the impeller member. Said conical and peripheral walls of the hollow impeller member define an internal chamber l2 with which the same is provided. The open rear side or back of the impeller member is closed by a back-plate l3, suitably secured thereto, as, for example, by fastening screws l4 threaded into coupling bosses as with which the peripheral wall u is provided. Formed in connection with said back-plate or suitably connected therewith is an axial drive shaft IQ for rotating said impeller member.

Formed on the impeller member, preferably as integral parts thereof, are external impeller vanes. Each said vane comprises a front face vane element l1, arranged to project outwardly from the exterior face of the conical front wall [0, and so as to extend from a point adjacent to 'the apex of the latter angularly to the perimeter thereof, the same being preferably of reversely curved conformation, as shown. From the perimeter of said conical front wall l0, each said external vane element continues rearwardly -and transversely, across the peripheral wall ll brush slots l9, which when filled with the liquid being pumped provide an effective seal between the wiping ends of said expeller vane portions l8 and the surrounding adjacent pump casing walls.

Enclosing the impeller member is a pump ca'sing conforming thereto, the same comprising a conical face wall 20 spaced outwardly from the conical front wall ID of the impeller member, at a distance equal to the projectional extent of the vane elements I! of the latter, and consequently so as to be wiped by said vane elements. Continuing rearwardly from the perimeter of conica1.face wall 20 of the casing is a peripheral wall 2|, which is likewise spaced outwardly from the peripheral wall ll of the impeller member, at a distance equal to the projectional extent of the expeller vane portions |8 of the latter, and thus also so as to be wiped by said expeller vane portions l8. At the apex of its conical face wall 20, the pump casing is provided with an intake means 22, axially aligned with the impeller member. Said. intake means may be variously formed, and illustratively, as shown, comprises an internally threaded tubular neck to which is connected the pipe or conduit 23 leading from the source of liquid desired to be drawn upon and dispensed by the pump. Extending from the peripheral wall 2| of the pump casing. is an outlet means 24, disposed substantially tangent to the periphery of the impeller member. Said outlet means 24 may likewise be variously formed, and illustratively, as shown, comprises a tubular extension, flanged at its outer end for connection thereto of a discharge pipe or conduit (not shown), through which the liquid pumped may be delivered to a desired point. end of the pump casing is closed behind the impeller member, by a cover plate 25 which is bolted to marginal flanges 26 of the pump casing, or otherwise suitably secured. to the latter. Formed in connection with said cover plate 25 is a bearing extension 21 adapted to support the drive shaft l6 of the impeller member. Fixed on the external end of said drive shaft I6 is a belt pulley 28, or other suitable means through which operating power may be transmitted to the drive shaft and thus to the impeller means.

The pump casing may be Suitably formed to ,i v down to normal continued pumping action until vide the same with a supporting base 29.

In operation, owing to the conical form of the operative face of the impeller member, and the angular extension therealong. of the vane elements I! in general radial disposition, the latter impart to the entering liquid a rapidly accelerating centrifugal force so as to exert a strong suctional pull upon the liquid source, while at the same time the entering and thus moved liquid is smoothly and effectively guided by the conical front face of the impeller member, with a minimum of restriction and absence of internal eddying, into the annular space surrounding the periphery of the latter, where it is subject to the direct and forceful expulsive effect of the expeller portions l8 of the vanes, and is thus quickly and smoothly discharged through the outlet means 24 of the pump casing.

In addition to the advantages of the conical form of the impeller member, above mentioned, such form easily lends-itself to the provision of a hollow. construction providing an internal chamber I2, which by further provision of properly located intake and outlet ports in communication with said chamber, renders the pump self-priming. To this end an intake port 30 is provided through the apex of the conical front wall ID of the impeller member. said intake port The rearward 30 leading axially into the interior of said chamber l2. Outlet ports 3| are provided through the peripheral wall H of the impeller member to lead radially outward from the chamber 2 to the annular space intermediate said peripheral wall II and the surrounding peripheral wall section 2| of the pump casing. Said outlet ports 3| may vary in number, but preferably at least one such outlet port communicates with each space between the expeller portions l8 of the vanes.

- When, after operation, the pump is stopped so that the impeller member stands idle, the liquid remaining in the pump interior may back-flow through the pump intake 22 until its level drops below the level of the latter, and consequently a considerable volume of liquid will remain in the lower part of the impeller member chamber l2 and in the surrounding lower part of the pump casing (see Fig. 3). When the pump is again put in operation, as the impeller member again rotates, the retained body of liquid within the chamber I2 is thrown by centrifugal force against the peripheral wall so as to be discharged through the outlet ports 3| into the spaces between the expeller portions l8 of the impeller vanes, thus forming a seal between the impeller member and the adjacent peripheral walls of the pump casing. Such expulsion of the liquid.from the chamber |2 creates a reduced pressure within the latter, and consequently air on the receiving side of the pump is drawn into the chamber |2 through theintake port 30, thus reducing the pressure within the liquid delivery line 23 with suction eifect upon the liquid source, whereby liquid from the latter moves toward the pump. .The air thus drawn 'into the chamber I2 is discharged with the liquid again stopped. It will thus be understood, that by virtue, of the described structure and mode of operation, the pump is self-priming.

In order to increase the centrifugal force ap- I plied to the liquid within the impeller member chamber l2, the peripheral walls ll of the latter may be provided with internal vanes 32 inwardly projecting from said walls. These internal vanes 32 may be varied in form'and number.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the above described pump construction within the scope of the herefollowing claims, hence I do not limit myself to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as shown and described, and it is therefore intended that all matter thus shown and described shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

- 1. A self-priming centrifugal pump comprising a rotary impeller member having a conical face and a peripheral portion of substantial width concentric to its axis of rotation, impeller vanes projecting from said conical face to extend angularly thereover from points adjacent to its apex to the perimeter thereof and thence across the peripheral portion of said impeller member, said impeller member having an internal chamber provided with an intake means passing axially through the apex of its conical face and outlet means passing radially through the peripheral portion of the impeller member intermediate vanes of the latter, a casing conforming to said impeller member and its vanes, said casing having intake means axially aligned with said impeller member in opposition to its conical face and outlet means substantially tangent to the peripheral portion of said impeller member, and means for driving said impeller member.

2. A self-priming centrifugal pump comprising a rotary impeller member having a conical face I and a peripheral portion of substantial width concentric to its axis of rotation, impeller vanes projecting from said conical face to extend angularlyvthereover from points adjacent to its apex to the perimeter thereof and thence across the peripheral portion of said impeller member, said impeller member having an internal chamber portion of the impeller member intermediate brush forming channels extending through the free edge portions thereof, said impeller member having an internal chamber provided with an intake means passing axially through the apex of its conical face and outlet means passing radially through the peripheral portion of the impeller member intermediate expeller vane portions thereof, a casing conforming to said impeller member and its external vanes, said casing having intake means axially aligned with said impeller member in opposition to its conical face and outlet means substantially tangent to the peripheral portion of said impeller member and in the path of movement of said impeller vane portions thereof, and means for driving said impeller member.

4. A self-priming centrifugal pump comprising, a rotary impeller member having a conical face and a peripheral portion of substantial width concentric to its axis of rotation. external impeller vanes projecting from said conical face to extend angularly thereover from points adjacent to its apex to the perimeter thereof, said external vanes terminating in expeller vane porvanes of the latter, said impeller member having internal vanes within its chamber inwardly projectingmore or less radially into the interior thereof from its peripheral portions, a casing conforming to said impeller member and its external vanes, said casing having intake means axially aligned. with said impeller member in opposition to its conical face and outlet means substantially tangent to the peripheral portion of said impeller means, and means for driving said impeller member.

3. A self-priming centrifugal pump comprising; a rotary impeller member having a conical face and a peripheral portion of substantial width concentric to its axis of rotation, external impeller means projecting from said conical face to extend angularly thereover from points adjacent to its apex to the perimeter thereof, said external vanes terminating in expeller vane portions extending transversely across the peripheral portions of said impeller member, said expeller vane portions having outwardly open liquid tions extending transversely across the periph-.

eral portions of said impeller member, said expellervane' portions having outwardly open liquid brush forming channels extending through the free edge portion thereof, said impeller member having an internal chamber provided with an intake means passingaxially through the apex of its conical face and outlet means passing radially through the peripheral portion of the impeller member intermediate expeller vane portions thereof, said impeller member having in- 'temal vanes within its chamber inwardly projecting more or less radially into the interior thereof from its peripheral portions, a casing conforming to said impeller member and its external vanes, said casing having intake means axially aligned with said impeller member in opposition to its conical face and outlet means substantially tangent to the peripheral portion of said impeller member and in the path of movement of said expeller vane portions thereof,

and means for driving said impeller member.

RALPH n. nrxom 

